The Bills continue to discuss a contract extension for four-year veteran WR Lee Evans and their agreement to play a series of games in Toronto has to help their cash flow.
The Bills are getting almost $8 million a year in additional revenue from Toronto interests and even after profit sharing will have a significant amount of new money to invest in their roster if they so chose.
Evans is a good place to start. He's one of the team's few productive stars whose best football is yet to come. Based on recent deals given Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald and Minnesota's Bernard Berrian, it would be wise for Buffalo to lock Evans' up long term before the cost rises further. He's now looking at a deal that will average $8 million a year. With the salary cap rising to $116 million per team in 2008, there's no reason Buffalo can't get a deal done with Evans.
FRANCHISE PLAYER
None.
TRANSITION PLAYER
None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--LB Mario Haggan is likely to be retained for depth and special teams work. He appeared in all 16 games for a fourth consecutive season, recording 13 special teams hits and career-high 16 tackles on defense.
--DE Anthony Hargrove has been suspended for 2008 after violating the NFL's substance abuse policy and has worn out his nine lives.
--FB/TE Ryan Neufeld isn't a priority to retain now that the team has decided to employ a true fullback again.
--DE Al Wallace spent the entire year in IR. Team needs a better option.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered offers)
--RB Shaud Williams (not tendered as RFA) was added to the roster in late December but isn't a high priority at a deep position.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS
--LB Blake Costanzo is not a high priority.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--TE Courtney Anderson: UFA Falcons; terms unknown.
--CB Will James: UFA Eagles; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
--DT Spencer Johnson: UFA Vikings; $17.5M/5 yrs, $6M guaranteed.
--TE Teyo Johnson: FA; terms unknown.
--LB Kawika Mitchell: UFA Giants; $17.5M/5 yrs, $3.5M guaranteed.
--DT Marcus Stroud (trade Jaguars).
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--S Dustin Fox: ERFA; terms unknown.
--DT Jason Jefferson: RFA; tendered at $927,000, terms unknown.
--DE Corey Mace: ERFA; terms unknown..
--TE Tim Massaquoi: ERFA; terms unknown.
--WR Scott Mayle: ERFA; terms unknown.
--OT Matt Murphy: UFA; terms unknown.
--S Bryan Scott: UFA; terms unknown.
--OG Jason Whittle: UFA; terms unknown.
PLAYERS LOST
--WR Sam Aiken: UFA Patriots; $1.555M/2 yrs, $225,000 SB/$40,000 WO.
--CB Jerametrius Butler (released).
--TE Michael Gaines: UFA Lions; $10M/4 yrs, $3M guaranteed.
--LB Leon Joe: UFA Buccaneers; terms unknown.
--S Jim Leonhard: Not tendered as RFA/Ravens; terms unknown.
--WR Peerless Price (released/failed physical).
--LB Josh Stamer: UFA Titans; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
--RB Anthony Thomas (released).
--CB Kiwaukee Thomas (released).
--DT Larry Tripplett (released).
--CB Jason Webster: UFA Patriots; $800,000/1 yr, $130,000 guaranteed/$70,000 WO.
--LB Coy Wire (released/failed physical).
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